The sea has always been vital. For travel, for trade and as a food source. It has given us a robust identity and provided us with work for generations. Its resources have ensured stability in uncertain times and been a catalyst for growth as new opportunities have arisen.
But in this new era, with deeper knowledge on how to manage the Earth’s resources, we have to rethink our approach to the marine industry. For the green shift to succeed, we must continue exploring every new opportunity the sea can provide, based on industrial expertise, new technology and creative thinking.
We believe this combination will generate a strong platform for increased value and new jobs.
But to create tomorrow’s industries, good ideas and innovation aren’t enough. We also have to commercialise those ideas. We have to think both long term and short term at once. No one can save the world alone, but together we can move mountains through collaboration, both internally and in partnership with others.
We have been looking for new opportunities in the ocean for the last 140 years. And we will continue to do so for at least another 140. This anniversary we are not just celebrating our rich history, but also our commitment to challenging the status quo and creating new and lasting values for the future.
That is why Grieg marks 140 Years of Blue Pioneering, for a Green Future.
After working as a captain on The Norwegian North Sea Expedition and living at sea for 13 years, Joachim Grieg founded a ship brokerage company in Bergen. When people used wooden sailing ships for transportation, Joachim Grieg became one of the first modern shipbrokers in Norway, as he invested strongly in steamships.
When Joachim Grieg’s younger brother, Halfdan, was named co-owner, the company became reorganized as the brokerage firm Joachim Grieg & Co. By investing in tankers, the company managed to evolve during the Great Depression throughout the 1930s.
When Halfdan’s grandson, Per Grieg sr., joined the family business, the shipping industry was transitioning towards an innovative and more compelling future. As most of the transportation happened at sea, Per Grieg sr. seized the opportunity to implement new technology and solutions to enhance the business.
Our redirection into shipowning was born with Star Shipping. Star Shipping developed its forest transportation market and used the effectiveness of open hatch ships. The new way of designing ships at the time became a great advantage for the company.
Grieg Transport was established in 1969 and later (in 2002) changed its name to Grieg Logistics. Their business areas were general transportation and freight forwarder services, with project and oil-related transportation as their specialty. Grieg Logistics has grown to be an international provider of ship services, advanced digital systems, and industrial terminal operations.
In the 1980s, we committed to using the most modern communication devices available. This helped ensure that we were well-prepared for the future to come. We celebrated 100 years in business and restructured our operations into the Grieg Group.
We moved into the newbuilt Grieg Gaarden in Bergen in 1990, a building with architectural features based on maritime shapes and glass walls overlooking the ocean. The 9,500 square meters were later (in 2016) expanded with another 5,000 sq m to fit our needs. Grieg Gaarden later won the communal architecture awards, and was certified as an Eco-lighthouse office building.
By establishing Grieg Seafood and BioInvest in 1992, we entered a new and fast-growing industry at precisely the right time. At Grieg Seafood, we specialize in fresh Atlantic salmon. The company has grown to be one of the world’s leading salmon farming businesses, with facilities in both Norway and Canada. In 2007 Grieg Seafood was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
In 1998, we established Grieg Investor, an independent institutional investment consulting practice based in Norway. Their core business is long term investment policy, manager selection and consolidated reporting, serving clients as funds, family offices, municipalities, and foundations.
After years of exponential growth, a new reorganization of our company took place in 1999, accommodating a new generation of the Grieg family taking the lead. The four siblings became the next generation leaders, each with equal ownership in Grieg Maturitas AS. Before taking over, each new leading member had an influential position within the group, getting to know the very details that make each Grieg company what it is.
Our social responsibility was formalized through Grieg Foundation, owning 25% of the shares in the Grieg Group. We have always been committed to improving the lives of future generations, and after 20 years, Grieg Foundation has donated more than 750 MNOK to social impact investments.
We take close consideration of the environmental footprint that we leave behind. Therefore, Grieg Star established Grieg Green in 2010, offering the maritime world a critical service. First, a company exclusively focusing on the sustainable recycling of ships, and later also offering rig recycling and IHM, ensuring vessels get a dignified and sustainable end.
G2 Ocean was established as a joint venture of two of the world’s largest open hatch shipowning companies, Gearbulk and Grieg Star. Today G2 Ocean has become the world’s largest ship operators within the open hatch segment, transporting mainly wood pulp and other forest products, aluminium, steel, granite, and industrial mineral.
Grieg Edge was established as part of Grieg Star as its innovation hub at the beginning of 2020. The company aims to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions to the challenges of maritime business. This triggered the restructuring of Grieg Star, and renaming to Grieg Maritime Group in 2021.
Today the Grieg Group is led by the 4th and 5th generations of the Grieg family, and we have become one of the world’s leading businesses within the maritime industry. With 138 years of experience, we have expanded and developed to operate within seafood, shipping, shipbroking, maritime innovation, logistics, and investments.
